Chapter 37
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
Araya slowed, pretending to study one of the old stone markers that rose beside the road as she caught her breath, shifting the heavy pack she’d insisted on taking yesterday.
She was regretting it now—Finn had set a grueling pace, and the thick ridges of scar tissue across her back throbbed from the exertion.
Even Serafina had outpaced her, not a word of complaint slipping past her lips, despite her worsening limp.
At least the walking had gotten a little easier now that they had picked up the main road.
The smooth stones carved a winding path through the trees, its surface strangely clear of the leaves and other debris covering everything else.
Only the moss growing between the stones hinted at the passage of time, leaving Araya with the strange impression they might encounter another traveler at any moment.
Magic, Loren had said when she asked. Imbued in the stones centuries ago to protect the road to Tirnavel from the slow erosion of time. Even without anyone to maintain it, the will of the craftsmen had held, bolstered by the aether that coursed through everything here.
They hadn’t talked much other than that.
Loren had volunteered for watch last night after a silent meal of hardtack and some berries Brynn had foraged along the way.
His bedroll had still been empty when Araya finally gave up on sleep, her own rest broken by strange, half-formed dreams. More than once, she had woken with a gasp—certain Jaxon’s hands were around her throat—only to find herself alone in her bedroll.
“Are you alright?”
Araya sucked in a sharp breath, turning to find Loren just behind her. She hadn’t heard him approach over the quiet rush of the river and the noise of her own thoughts.
“Just catching my breath,” she said quickly.
Loren frowned, his gaze dropping to the straps digging into her shoulders. “Is it too heavy?”
“It’s not any heavier than anyone else’s bag,” Araya said. “I can carry my share.”
“I’m sure you can.” Loren was already undoing the straps, ignoring her attempts to swat his hands away.
“But you don’t have anything to prove.” He shifted his own pack, slinging hers over his other shoulder.
“All your plans won’t mean anything if you’re too exhausted to fight by the time we reach Tirnavel. ”
She couldn’t argue with that. Araya chewed her lip, staring at the marker she’d been trying to make sense of. “Can you tell how much further we have to go?”
Loren leaned past her, his cold stone and rain scent enveloping her as he studied the marker. “Not far. We’ll have to stop for lunch, but we should be there before dark.”
Another stop. Araya glanced back the way they had come, the forest swallowing the road behind them in a wall of green.
Jaxon was back there, somewhere. Maybe he had already realized his scouting party hadn’t fallen victim to the forest and picked up their trail, blazing down the road behind them.
The Arcanum would have horses, they’d make better time than a group of fae on foot.
“Can’t we eat as we walk?” she asked.
“The others need to rest,” Loren said gently. “And so do you.”
The others had already disappeared around a bend in the road, but it only took another ten minutes of brisk walking before the road curved back toward the river.
Naeva spotted them first, her low whistle pulling their eyes up into the tree where she’d perched.
A few steps farther on, they found the others clustered in the ruins of a small watch post, its stone walls crumbled and its thatched roof long since rotted away.
“Finally,” Serafina said, hurrying across the clearing to them. “I was about to have Finn send someone back to look for you.” Her gaze raked over them, taking in the extra pack slung over Loren’s shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
Araya cleared her throat. “My back is sore. But I can still keep up.”
Serafina’s mouth tightened. “Show me,” she ordered.
With a sigh, Araya followed her friend into the shelter of one of the walls that still stood. She tugged the too-large men’s shirt free of her belt, bracing herself for Serafina’s disapproving hiss as she lifted the fabric.
“No more weight,” she said, her quick fingers dancing across the scars that marked Araya’s back. “Or you’ll tear them open again.”
“You can carry a pack,” Araya muttered.
“The Arcanum broke my hip. They didn’t flay my back open.
” Serafina helped Araya straighten her shirt.
“Finn said we should get there tonight.” She glanced across the clearing toward where Finn and Loren were deep in conversation.
“I think it’s hard on them—being back here.
Finn won’t talk about it. He changes the topic every time I try.
I imagine it’s even worse for Loren to see it like this. ”
Araya followed Serafina’s gaze, her chest tightening at the thought. “Probably,” she agreed softly.
Serafina tugged her into a half-hug, squeezing her shoulder. “Make sure both of you eat something and drink some water,” she said. “I have to check on the others before we get back on the road.”
Araya chewed on her lip, refastening her belt as Serafina walked away. Then, her mind made up, she squared her shoulders and strode across the clearing.
Finn looked up as she approached, his eyes widening slightly. Loren followed his gaze and straightened, wariness flickering across his face.
“Ael’sura,” he started, taking a step toward her. “What—”
Araya threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.
For a moment, Loren just stood there, frozen. Then his arms came up around her, holding her close.
“I’ll let you handle this one,” Finn said to Loren, clearly trying not to laugh. “We’re back on the road in ten minutes.”
Araya pressed her face harder into Loren’s shoulder, listening as Finn’s footsteps faded away.
“I thought you were coming over to fight about carrying your pack,” Loren said after a moment, whispering the words into her hair.
Araya laughed wetly into his shoulder. “No. You were right.” She pulled back, wiping at her eyes.
How much time had they spent fighting the ghosts of their own past when they could have been together, finding whatever happiness they could?
“I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I didn’t think about what this must be like for you. ”
Loren’s brow furrowed. “Would that have changed your mind?”
No. They had to go to Tirnavel. Araya became more certain with every step she took. Running wouldn’t save them. If there was a chance to defeat Jaxon Shaw—they needed to take it.
No matter what the cost.
“I still should have thought about it,” Araya said quietly.
Loren cupped her face, brushing an errant tear from her cheek with his thumb before leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. “You’re forgiven.”
Araya stared at him. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Loren smiled down at her. “We might both struggle with our pasts, but there is no future where I do not stand beside you, ael’sura.” He took her hand. “Especially not when that future involves you walking straight into danger.”
Araya felt the change before she saw it.
The strange presence from her dreams lingered just beyond her reach, watching her with a quiet curiosity that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. It didn’t speak this time, but its scrutiny pressed against her consciousness like an iron weight.
Loren’s shadows felt it too. They clung close to his legs, unwilling to tangle themselves with the wild power that permeated the air here.
Even the small one wrapped around Araya’s wrist loosened its grip, creeping up her arm to disappear into the collar of her shirt.
It settled loosely at her throat like a necklace, its cool weight resting over the rapid flutter of her pulse.
“Everyone stay close,” Finn said softly, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword.
No one spoke after that. Even the birds had fallen silent, the vast forest settling into an uneasy stillness. The trees were older here, the road winding through massive trunks spaced further and further apart. Until finally, they parted altogether.
“Oh,” Caela breathed.
Even in ruins, Tirnavel was beautiful. The fae palace had been built into and around the colossal trees, shafts of golden light making the white marble seem to glow.
But the destruction was unmistakable.
Loren stared at it without speaking. Taking in the shattered doors, the white marble blackened and cracked by stolen magic. Soaring windows yawned open to the elements, entire sections of walls collapsed and consumed by creeping vines and wild growth.
“Everyone spread out,” Finn said. “Caela, you and Kai work your way around the western side. Brynn and Naeva will cover the eastern approach with me. I want a full perimeter set with sentry runes before dark. We don’t want the Arcanum to sneak up on us.”
“If they even make it this far,” Brynn said brightly. “The forest might take care of them for us.”
Araya flinched, cold dread slithering down her spine. Loren’s grip on her hand tightened—or maybe her fingers had closed around his, both of them clinging to each other.
“No one thought Jaxon would make it through the Shadowed Veil, either,” she said, the words coming out sharper than she intended.
Brynn’s smile faltered. “I didn’t mean—” she trailed off, swallowing hard. “I’m sorry.”
“We should be prepared for anything,” Finn said after a moment. “Serafina, can you take Araya and Loren and find a place for us to set up camp?”
Serafina nodded. “Of course.”
With the others already spreading out across the overgrown grounds, Araya and Loren followed her toward the shattered doors.
Araya shivered, her gaze tracing the cracks running through the marble.
It was exactly as it had been in her dreams—down to the glass crunching beneath her boots.
Wild magic beat against her skin like a war drum, urging her to keep walking, straight through the hall into the tangled overgrowth that stood between her and the Eldergreen—
“This was the main receiving hall.”
Araya jumped, the sound of Loren’s distant voice snapping her out of her head. He didn’t seem to notice, dropping her hand to gesture at the twin staircases that curved along each side of the hall.
“It’s probably the best place to make our stand,” he continued.
“Anyone who wants to reach the grove has to come straight through here — we can pick them off from the balconies above.” He took a half step forward, his gaze lingering on the place where marble gave way to dark earth.
“I’ll stand here and meet anyone who makes it through. ”
Araya shivered, sweat standing out on her skin despite the coolness of the air. “And where will I be?”
“In the grove.” Loren looked up, meeting her surprised gaze.
“It’s what you were going to suggest, isn’t it?
” He smiled sadly, an emotion she couldn’t quite name shining in his green eyes.
“Shaw wants you—and the power in that grove—more than anything else in the world. If we put you together, he’ll rush straight for you. ”
“And hopefully he’ll be distracted enough to make a foolish mistake,” Serafina cut in. “Where were you thinking for camp? The second floor?”
Loren nodded. “There’s a large solar my mother favored for smaller gatherings. Should be plenty of space for all of us.”
“That should work.” Serafina studied the nearest staircase. “I’ll start getting things organized up there.”
“How can we help?” Araya asked.
“I’ve got it.” Serafina glanced back to where Loren had wandered toward the overgrown garden, his shadows swirling around his feet as he stared into the tangled vines.
“I think Finn was more worried about giving Loren the chance to react to all of this without an audience. Don’t worry, I’ll scream if something attacks me. ”
Araya scowled. “That’s not funny,” she called after Serafina, but the healer was already halfway up the staircase.
With a sigh, Araya turned back toward Loren. Even from across the hall she could feel the sadness rolling off him through the bond, a heavy weight settling on her chest. He didn’t move as she crossed the hall to him, his attention fixed on something beyond the vines.
“Do you want to go in?” she asked, touching his arm gently.
“I really don’t.” Loren turned his back on the grove, his voice rough. “I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be.” Araya stepped into him, wrapping her arms around him. “Let me carry it for you.”
He shook his head, his green eyes shining. “I’d have loved for you to see this as it was. Not like…this.”
Araya swallowed hard, tears pricking the backs of her eyes. “Maybe I will one day.”
Loren didn’t smile. “We can dream, I suppose.” He took her hand, twining his fingers with hers. “Come on. I’ll give you the tour of what’s left.”